AAA expects over 760K in Arizona to travel for Memorial Day weekend

PHOENIX – More than three-quarters of a million Arizonans are expected to travel over the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, most of them by car, AAA Arizona said.

Arizona is projected to send 710,028 onto the highways in trips of at least 50 miles starting Thursday, spokesman Aldo Vazquez told KTAR News 92.3 FM.

“Car travel is going to dominate,” Vazquez said.

AAA also estimated that 51,099 from Arizona will travel by air for the long holiday weekend.

Overall, more than 37 million – a 60% increase from last year’s, during COVID-19 heaviest restrictions – are supposed to be on the roads for the upcoming holiday, the unofficial start to summer vacationing season.

The numbers are down 13% compared to 2019 in total travel, he said. “There is a [postpandemic] rebound but there is still a little bit of hesitance to get around.”

Anyone heading out on a road trip should be aware of the local and state coronavirus restrictions where they’re headed, Vazquez said.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has approved fully vaccinated people going maskless in public, it still recommends masks and social distancing in crowded indoor settings, such as airplanes and buses.

“Face masks are still required in many public areas,” Vazquez said. “Carry hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes.”

The busiest travel days for drivers will be Thursday and Friday afternoons.

Memorial Day falls on Monday.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Tasler-Oatley contributed to this report.

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